As my faculties returned to me some time later I awoke with a splitting pain in my skull and cold iron manacles around my hands and feet, gouging into my skin when I tried to shift my weight in the wooden straight backed chair and look around the room where I was being held captive.

Hearing a pair of voices drawing closer to the door I slumped back into into the chair and watched the wooden door, waiting.

The door opened with a squeal in the dank room and Jon walked in, followed by La Jardinier. Or was it Lucifer? I needed more information and focussed on trying to follow the energy currents flowing through the two men, I had a feeling I would need every advantage I could get in this next exchange.

Through the pain I could see that the energy in Jon’s brain was concentrating in the fear part of his brain, and when he saw me there was a slight shift in the energy to a new part of his mind. I was not familiar with this energy pattern but seeing the look in his eyes I thought it may be something like regret.

Yes, he would regret his part in this whole circumstance. I would ensure that, but later.

Turning my focus to La Jardinier I was shocked that I had not picked up on the blinding energy that he was exuding sooner, or perhaps he had some ability to mute the energy within himself, or that his control over his own energy was immaculate when he wanted to have it under control. 

Regardless of how I had not noticed it before I was noticing it now, and the power of the mans pride and fury was like a fiery brand searing its mark on my vision and I was forced to look away before I was blinded.

La Jardinier focussed on me and his blue eyes pierced into my soul, just as they had done the first time we had met.

In a deadly voice dripping with venom he asked if I knew who he was. With all of the strength I could muster I responded that I did, that he was La Jardinier, the proprietor of La Roseraie, and a man of obviously immense power.

La Jardiniers eyes flashed from their piercing blue to a flaring crimson and in a flash he knelt down on one knee, grabbed my face in both hands and squeezed, forcing me to look directly into his eyes.

My normally cool composure crumbled and I trembled in terror as if I had never known fear before. The next words that came out of La Jardinier burned their way into my memory forever in a wash of tears and horror.

“You know me! You have met my brethren and now you have seen my true nature! You know The Devil, The Son of Perdition, You know me for I am Lucifer! And now Guardian I would know you!”

It felt as if my mind were being torn asunder, ripped to shreds and rebuilt again under the crimson glare. In that moment I would have given any secret that was held within my heart just to make the pain and terror stop.

Lucifer released my face and his eyes returned to the piercing blue they had been moments before. Asking again with his deadly voice dripping with venom if I knew who he was.

Trembling I answered that I did, that he was The Devil, The Son of Perdition, and his name was Lucifer. 

Smiling a vicious smile he suggested that I not forget that name, and then proceeded to ask me who I was and why I had returned to La Roseraie.

Still shaking, I recounted the tale of meeting the Angel in the forest and my reason for seeking out information from Jon.

Alexander Motus, Guardian #51